Bicycle MechanicsBroken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

I have been using Shimano chains with Wipperman master links for years now. No problem. Just make sure you get the orientation correct. The Wipperman has a specific orientation and the new Shimano 10-speed chains (6700 and 7900) do, too.

About the orientation. The slotted end of the plate facing you. as it's installed on the lower section of chain, should point toward the back of the bike. In other words, the slot is on your left and the pin is on your right.

About the orientation. The slotted end of the plate facing you. as it's installed on the lower section of chain, should point toward the back of the bike. In other words, the slot is on your left and the pin is on your right.

The directions regarding installation of the chain states that one side of plates have markings on them, the other side does not. The side with the markings faces outwards.

Just be sure you get the right one. IIRC there are three different Connex for 10-speeds.

There were several different models made, but that stopped a couple of years ago. Now there is just one model made that will fit Shimano, KMC or Wipperman 10 speed chains, since they all have about the same width across the inner plates. Officially, Wipperman does not consider their links to be made to fit any other brand of chain. You might rarely find a link marked 10S1 rather then 10 SPEED. Those are the narrower links that do not fit the chains mentioned. Some sellers even advertise the 10S1 link, but if you order them, that's not what you get.

What about the narrower Campy chains? They (used to) make a different one to fit those.

No, they did not. Wipperman made a 6.1mm chain that they called "Campy compatible", back when Campy 10 chains were 6.1mm wide, and a narrower 5.9mm model that they called "Shimano compatible", but those chains and their connex links were never intended to fit any other brand of chain. Oddly enough, the link for the Campy model would actually fit a genuine Shimano chain and the link from Wipperman's "Shimano compatible" chain was not wide enough to provide the proper side clearance with a genuine Shimano chain. Confusing huh? Some people mistakenly bought the Shimano model (10S1) connex link to use with a Shimano chain and had failures since there was no side clearance.

Now Wipperman only makes the 5.9mm width and calls it "compatible with all 10 speed systems". The chain has the same dimensions as a KMC or Shimano chain. Both Campy and SRAM 10 chains are the same 5.9mm width as all others, but the width across the inner plates is narrower. Links that fit KMC, Wipperman or Shimano are a sloppy fit on a Campy or SRAM chain.